Drying machine



Dec. 8, 1925. 1,564,775

. c. A. GREEN` ET AL nauwe mams Filed Jah. 11, 1923- 3. sheets-sheet 2 fao Dec. 8, 1925. 1,56

v C. A. GREEN Er AL DRYING uAcHINE Firled Jan. l1, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll la 'of Illinois, and HAROLD J. BRUNK, a citizen` Patented. Dea s, 1925.

- `UNITED STATES PATENTsoFFlcI-z...

CHARLES A. GREEN AND HAROLD J'. BRUNI, 0F CHICAGO, IILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 THE C. F. PEASE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF'ILLINOIS.

11am@ MACHINE.'

appiieaaon mea January '11, 192s. vserial No. 611,940. Y

To all lwhom t may concern.:

Bc it known that we, CHARLES A. GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin dryingmachines and more particularly to blue print, drying-machines of `the belt and drum type.

Some of the mostjtr'oublesomefactors encountered-in the operation of this type of dryin machine, as heretofore constructed, have `t(een the unequal distributlon of'heat `over the drying surface of'the drum; the lsticking of the paper to the drum requiring the use of Scrapers, or the like; the dlscoloring or spottingof the prints due to theI action of entrapped steam generated at the oint of entrance of the paper into the mac ine, and the inability to maintain'thel drum at the proper temperature for varying working conditions.

Accordin to the present invention all of these d cu ties are overcome, the first mentioned two b the use of a drum constructed of co per, t e third by inclining the forward y moving feedv run of the beltl upwardly at a tangent to the drum so as to provide against the collection of water orsteam along the line of engagement between the belt and the drum and the pocketing of such steam between the latter and the paper, andthe fourth lby the' provision of an automatically operable heat regulator associated with the drum for controlling. the temperature of the latter.

AIn the present lmprovements :applicant decided upon a copper drum as distin guished from those of other metals such as' heretofore used, primaril to overcome the junevenness in heat d'stri ution, which had been an objectionable feature of the prior machines. I n actual use, however, not only was this feature overcome by the use of a copper drum but-in addition, and of even greater importance, it was discovered that the paper would not stick or adhere to `such a drum, said paper standing free or clear of the same upon emerg'ng from between the Alatter and the belt. Thus the advance 'tion to construct the drying dru in the art by the use of cop-(prer in the construction of the heating or two-fold.'

ying drum is In addition to the objects and, advantagesU i of the invention appearing from the foregoing, many others will, be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of'v the following specification'taken in connection .with the 4'accompanying drawings wherein one form of the invention is illus-l' trated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevationl of 'a -drying j,

machine constructed in accordance' with the ypresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, 'certain parts being shown in section andothers broken away;

Fig. 3 is a through the dryng drum showing the heat detail sectional view taken regulator operatively associated` therewithi and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional'view ofr thev-` heat regulator.

` Referring more in detail to the drawings, the mach ne comprises a frame 10 made up of side frame members or units 10 and 10" tied together in suitably spaced relation by means oftransverse horizontally and diagonahyI disposed reinforcing members 1Ol The heating or drying drum of the mav chine is shown at 11 mounted horizontally between the side frame-members 10'10" and being supported in such position by' means ofrollers 1 2 carried by each ofthe side frames and'extending inwardly from the latter into the opposite open ends of the drum. Three of these rollers spaced ='equi j distantly apart are shown carried by' 'each side frame and these en age metal -bands'13 of steel or the like carried interiorly of the l drum immediately adjacent its opposite open ends. previously pointedl out, it is contemplated according to the present inven- 11, except for the bandsr13 thereof, entirely of copper preferably in the form of -a seamless tube.

nov

A gas burner 14 in the form of a perforated pipe extends through the drum 11 and is mounted at its opposite ends in the Side frames. This burner pipe iscapped at one end as at 15 and at its other endsaid-pipe connects with the supply pipe 16, the latter having interposed thereln a suitable mixing valve 17 and cutoff valve 18. 'l The side access maybe had to the interior frames overlie the open ends of the drum except for the openings 19 'through whlch drum and to the burner. i n

Surrounding the drum 11 and suitably 4 spaced therefrom area plurality offhorizontally disposed rollers 23, 24, 25land 26', over 'naled in suita le bearing which and the drum asses t e conveying and driving belt 27 T e roller 23 is mounted with the op osite ends of its shaft-jourooves 28 pro.- vided in thejfront edges ofglthe side frame members. Roller 24 is removably journaled across the top `edges of the side frames. Roller is journaled in the upper forked ends 29 of levers 30 pivoted at 31'on the inner sides of the frame members. The levers 30 may be adjusted on their pivots 3@ to reg- I i ulate or control the tension of the belt 27, 2o

these adjustments being effected through screw threaded rods 32, which engage loosely through openings 33 inthe lower ends of the levers 30, nuts 34 and coiled springs 35, the'latter being anchored 'at one end-to the frame members and at theirother ends .being connected to the ends of the rods 32. Thus by turning nuts 34 in one direction or the other, the roller 25 may be moved to either increasevor decrease the tension o-f the 30 belt. The forward roller 26 is journaledlat itsopposite ends in blocks 36 slidably carried on-rods 37 anchored at their forward ends inJthe side frames, as at 38 and at their rear ends to members 39, which are fixed to the sides yframes at the rearof said blocks. Screw threaded rods 40 engage through these blocks 36 and extendsubstantiallyparallel to thejrods 37, said rods 40 being jour- ,naled at: their rear ends in members 39 .and

attheir-orwardends are provided' with hand 'wheels 41. whereby the blocks36` and hence roller 26 ma 'be ad'us'ted v"back and forth upon Vthe ro s 37,. t is arrangement and regulating thetension ofthe b elt. i -Wlth this arrangej v'I nentit. will also be observed that either end ofthe roller 26 may ba'djusted independently ofthe other end ,thereofin or er to keep the. belticentrally disposed with rela- -tion tothe drum and rollers and to prevent lateral creeping thereof. The blocks 3 6 each carry a forwardly projecting arm or bracket I .rlrn ofthe belt and as previously described,

42 to which are secured the op osite ends ofa fixed transverse rod 43, lthe elt 27 in 'its travel over or.v around roller 2 6, passing -be-` tween the latter and this rod 43. v-

Reference numeral 44 designates the vfeed is inclined upwardly ata ,tangent to the 'heating or drying drum. Immediately be-v lneath the feed 'run of the .belt and extending betweenthe side frame members and attached thereto,there is positioned afiXed. table 45, conveniently termed ;a ffeedingltable, said table providing atrig'id andtirm support'for of the ble thereon above the that portion 'of the belt upon lwhich the This enables printsare fed to the machine. the operator to spread the prints evenly and smoothly on the belt without danger of wrinkling of otherwise injuring the same and represents a distinct improvement in therart in that heretofore the feed run of l50, the outer end ofv which carries a bevel gear 51, which meshes with a bevel gear 52 carrled b ycollar 53v looselyrl mounted yon vertical shaft 54. The collar 53 at its upper end carries a gear wheel 55 provided on its upper surface with a plurality of upstandmg studs 56. Keyed to shaft 54 and slida- 52 and 55 is a gear wheel 57 having studs 58 depending -from its lower face and adapted for coaction with studs 56 carried by gear 55. Pivoted to the side frame member at 59 is a leven 60 by means ofc which the gear 56 may be raised or lowered upon the shaft 54 to edect the engagement or disengagement of the studs 56 ,and 58. vA counteror spreading the collar 53 and its gearsshaft'is shown at 61 having mounted thereon gear wheels 62 and 63. A keeper plate is shown at 64 provided with three kapertures vdesigned for -coaction with the spring pressed keeper 65 carried by lever 60 for 'maintainin said lever in its various positions of adjustment. The shaft 54 at its upper end is provided with a bevelgear 66 in constant mesh with bevel gear 67, thelatter being carried by the adjacent outerlendmf ,the shaft of roller 2 3.

A s will be observed from the foregoing upon operation lofthe motor 47, -assuming the .gears 55 and 57 to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings with 'their studs in intermeshing engagement, shaft 54 will be" driven direct at full speed through f the train of gears previously described, gear wheels 62 and 63 merely idling in thisrelation of vthe arts. By lifting lever 60, howgears 57 and 63A into ever, and ringin mesh arid incidenta ly disengaging the studs 56 and 58 the shaft 54 will be driven at half speed, the power in this case being transmitted to the gear 57 through thel countershaft 61, as will be readily understood. In this position of the lever, the

keeper 65there f will engage the up ermost vaperture in the-keeper'v plate v64. y nfull I engage the lowermost aperture in plate 64,

the middle opening in said mamas speed drivingrelation they keeper 65 will plate. being engaged by the keeper when t e parts are in neutral position. s

Thus the rollerx23 is driven directfrom the power source while the other rollers 24, 25 and 26 are idler rollers.

i the belt 27 and the drum, are, of course,

l ing relation,

the rod 43, the table 45 adording a rigid and firm support for the belt at this point, thereby facilitating ,the feeding in of the prints. The prints, as soon as they are picked up by the belt- 44, areconveyedvforwardly in the direction of the arrow to the drying drum- 11, where they contact directly with the outer. periphery of the latter and are held in such contact by the belt in` the continued movement thereof, said prints in their travel in contact with'the drum being thoroughly dried and emerge in such -state at the point 67 after having traveled in contactv with the drum through thegreater portion of acom- Feet 72 are provided on the arms 7 0 to prof plete'rotation thereof. The prints as they emerge from the ldrum, at the point 67, stand clear or free of the surface thereof and are caught or collected in a suitable tray 69,the latter ybeing supported by arms 70 pivoted to 'the frame members so \as to 1 permit of the tray being swung up on to of the frame members whenever desire vide a support for the tray when in its raised positionfso as to Vprevent .contact-'loi'. interference ,with the top roll 24. 1 The arms 70 at their'lower ends Vare provided .with adjustablestops 7 3 designed for coaction with the front edgesof the side frame members for properly osit'i'oning .thetray with re-A lation tothe rumyit being preferred',l according to the present inrentiomfto maintain the proximity: to theperiphery ofthe drum but always outof contact therewith, as it has been `found in practiceJ that the corrodmg lor 'oxidizing of the outer surface I of the "drum tends to enhance the desirable qualities thereof previously described. Should l 'the tray contact with or scrape against the drum this oxidizing process vwould be reatarded.` l As vthe prints'are fed over rod 43 a substantial quantity ofthe water carried by' said prints is squeezed therefrom, this water dripping into ajsuitabletray 74 positioned `at 'the bottom oilthe machine 'imi said rod. The rod 43 is 'a :stationary andl in; practice it has been found very eti'ective in removingsubstantial quantities of water from thevprints 'as the same In operation,

be dried have been washed,

innerfedgeofthe tray in-'rather close are 'fedv into the machine. As previously pointed out, the upward inclining of the eed run ofthe belt is considered an importantfeatu/re. As will be observed from the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, this provides for efficient drainin of the water.

away from the drum at t c point of en-- trance of the prints, thus preventing any accumulation at this point or the pockcting or entrappingA of steam, such as would occur in the event of such accumulation. In prior machines, aspreviously pointed out, considerable diicultyhas been encountered fromthc action of steamon the prints as the same are being dried, this 'steam action upon the chemical employed in the printing process, discoloring or spottingthe prints, some times to a marked degree. It has been foundl in the use of the present improvements that this diiiiculty is entirely overcome owing to the disposition ofthe feed run of the belt relative to thedrum.

Shouldrepair or replacement of the belt ever become necessary in the present machine, the removalv of the belt may be very quickly efected by merely releasing the tension thereon and lifting the roller 23 out of its-bearing grooves or sockets 28. This is also -an improvement over prior machines wherein' it has been necessary .in removing any one of the rollersfto withdraw the same lengthwise through one of the side frames-.

An important feature of the present improvements resides in the provision of a heat regulator for controlling the temperature of the drying drum. This heat regulator is designated generally by reference character 20, the adjustable controlling or regulating element of which bears reference character 21 andfisin the formV of a calibrated dial, or the like, as shown. The heat responsive. *unit of the regulatorbears referencev character 22 andextends through the adjacent side frame ofthe 'machine and .to a substantial'dist'ance into vthe drying drum im-` iii) los

-suitablehousing 75 Aof, insulating material .surrounds said unit, this housing extending completely through the drum and being supported at its opplosite ends by brackets 7.6 o r the like, attac In Vthis manner the heat responsive unit of the regulator is confined between the insulating housingand the inner periphery of the drum in such wise that said unit is in- `fluenced only by temperature changes vin the wall of said drum.

Referring more in detail to the construction of the heat .regulator shown in the ac ed to the-side frames. i

companying drawings, particularly Fig. 4

thereof, the calibrated dial or controlling dle Cv and depends therefrom downwardly as procelain having a low coelicientof exf pansion,

within the tube G. by .means of asbestosl y:as

-ed .in

-ment of dial 21, as will7 element 2.1' is mounted on the outer end of a screw threaded spindle C, which engages through an adjacent wall of the housing L.

The upperl end of a lever K is hooked or.

otherwise' secured to the inner end of spinthrough housing L to a pointadjacent its lower end, said lever carrying at `its lower end a plunger N, which latter is normally urged oryvardly by the spring M towards itsseat'S with which-it cooperates in regulating or controlling the flow of gas through the outlet orifice T'.- R ,designates the gas inlet which is attached to the .main supply pipe -by ordinary union Q. Mounted in one wall ofthe housing. L slightly below kthe uupper end-of lever K and extending outwardly from saidl housing a substantial distance is a metal `tube G of material such as copper, having a high coefiicient of expansion. This tube is closed at its outer` end and contains a rod H of material such this rod being supported centrally cushions I, or the like and impelled. toward said closed end by spring Held in contact with the inner end of rodv H is an .extension rod E, also of porcelain, which,

or regulatethe iiow of gas, so asto maintain the temperature of the drum within the limits desiredand as indicated by the calibrations on the adjustable dial'21. 'One Ue of the dial 21 is serrated and a dicator coacting withA said s erratlons is employed 'for maintaining the -dial inA its various positions of' adustment.- Adjustthe inner end of: a spindle C tothe right i or left to vary Vthe heat control of the regulator, as will be readilyjunderstood by those skilled in the art.

The use of a heat regulator for control-.-

' ling the temperature of the drying drum and for maintaining the same within certain vprescribed limits for varylng .workin conditions 1s an important improvement' 1n the art for the reasonithat it prevents to a lar eextent burning` or carbonizing of the be t,

a source of considerable annoyance and ex'- pense in drying machines asv heretofore constructed. During the use of such prior drying machines the drying drum, during cerlator shown.

ivoted Y' y observed, movestain periods in the use of the machine, heats' resulting in a carbonizing of the b'elt and 'subsequent' rapid deterioration thereof,

up to a considerable degree,

necessitatin relacement. Carbomzmg or burmng o the elt may also result upon the shutting down of the machine but this is prevented in the present improvements by the use of a sheet of asbestos, shown in dotted lines at 77 in Fig. 1, or other suitableinsulating material, which is fed infbetween the drying drum and the belt, When'the machine-is shut protect the belt from overdown so as to heating. .Y

The construction of the heat regulator .perse herein'illustrated and described forms no part of the 'present improvements, claims herein, in so far as this feature is concerned, being restricted to the useof a heat lregulatory in a. d ing described. bviously therefore it is not desired to limit or in any wise restrict the claims to thel articular form of 'heat reguskilled in thejart that theimprovements are machine of thel character t'will also be .obvious tothose Y susceptible of various changes and modiications without .departing from the lspirit of the invention and accordin ly it is notldesired to limit o r restrict te same, except |where limitations claims.V ,A

What we claim is 1. In a machine ofthe class described, a drying drum, with, thesfeed Wardly at a tangent to said drum, and a supporting element underlying said run.

appear Vin the appended a belt in engagement' there. run ofthe belt traveling up- 2. vIn a drying machine, adrum, means l for heating the same, a plurality of rollers, a belt passing over said -rollers and .around Vsaid drum, means for driving onev of saidI rollers, and means for adjusting a plurality I of said rollers'to control s ion of said belt. 1- j 3. In a ldrying machine,` a drum,'means forheating the same, a plurality of rollers,

the travel and ten'- a belt passing Lover said rollers andaround said drum, means for] driving one lof said rollers, said belt in passing from one of said rollers to the drum traveling inan upwardly lll) inclined plane tangentially thereto,-thereby1 belt.

4. .In a drying-machine', side frame'menil .providingfor drainage away from the drum along the line of initial engagement bel tween the latter and the. belt, and a ,feed

.table underlying said vinclined pert'ion of the 12",.

bers, a drum -rotatably mounted therebetween, means for heating the same, a plurality of rollers, a belt passing over said rollersand around drivingone of said rollers, the latter being said drum, and means for removably j ourn'aled in said frame members.'

5.4 In a drying machine, 'a drum, meansjfor heating the same, a plurality ofV rollers, a

belt passing over said rollersV and around said drum, means for driving one of said rollers, the belt in passing from one of said rollers to the drum traveling in an upwardly inclined plane tangentially thereto, thereby' at said discharge, said receiving means being in the form of a tray, and means for adjusting the latter with respect to said drum.

6. In 'a drying machine, a drum, means for heating the same, a plurality of rollers, a belt passing over the latter and around said drum, one of said rollers being mounted below and forwardly of said drum, the feed.

run of said belt extending from said last named roller to the drum along an upwardly inclined plane, and means for adjusting said roller.

7. In a drying machine, a drum, means for heating the same, a plurality of rollers, a belt passing over the latter and around said drum, one of said rollers being mounted below and forwardly of said drum, the feed rdn of said belt extending from said last named roller to the drum along an upwardly inclined plane, means for adjusting said Y roller, and a stationaryT rod associated with said roller over -whic the material to .be dried isdragged in its passage to said belt.

8. In a dryingmachme, a drum, means for heating the same, 'a plurality of rollers, a belt passing over the latter and around said drum, one of said rollers being mounted below and forwardly of said drum, the

feed run of 'said belt extending from said' last named roller to the .dr-lum along an upwardly inclined plane, means for adjusting said roller, and a stationary rod associate with said roller over which the material to be dried is dragged in'its passage tosaid boga, said rod ing adjustable with said ro er. l

9. In adrying machine, slde frame mem-y bers, a vd'rum rotatably mounted therebetween, means'for heating the same, a plurality of rollers, a belt passing over the latter and around said drum, and means for driving one ofsaid rollers, the latter being mounted in grooves in the edge of said frame members to permit of itsv removalv laterally with respect to its longitudinal axis.

10. In a drying machine, frame inembers, a Idrum therebetween, vand 'a plurality of rollers carried-by said frame men'ibers and Aextending inwardly therefrom intothe opposite ends of ,said drum, and lrot'atalily su porting the latter by engagement-with t e inner periphery thereof. 1`1. In a machine of the class described, a dry-ing drum a belt inengageme'nt therewith, run o tangent to extending therewith.

12. -Ina machine of the class described, a

guide rollers for said belt, the feed said drum, and a rigid support beneath said belt and in contact u the belt extending upwardly at adrying drum, a belt in engagement therewith, guide rollers for said elt, and a feeding tableunder the feed run of said beltfor supporting the latter; 13. In a dryin machine of the class described, the com drum thereof and gas burner for said drum, of a heat regulator comprising a heat-re#v `sponsive unit and meansactuated thereby inaton with the drying for controlling'the flow of gas to'said burner,

said heat responsive unit projecting into said drum in close proximity. tb the inner pe-l riphery thereof but out ofy contact there'- with.

14. In a dryin scribed, the com ination with the drying.

'drum thereof and means for heating the of a heat regulator operable by the4 same, heat of Vsaid drumfor controlling the temperature of said drum.

. .as machine of the class de- 15. In a-dryin machine of the' class vdescribed, the com ination with Athe drying drum thereof and gas burner for said drum, of a heat. reguator comprising a lheat responsive unit and means actuated thereby for controlling the flow .of gas to said burner, said heat responsive unit projecting into said drum in close proximity to the inner .periphery thereof but out of contact therewith, and a .housing for said unit l)positioned 1n such wise that said unit is i by temperature changes in the wall of said drum.

16. In a drying machine 'ofthe' class described, the combination with the drying uenced only drum thereof and means for heating the same, ofa heat regulator operable by the heat of said. drum for controlling the temperature of the latter, said heat vregulator comprising a heat res onsive element mount'- ed'adjacent the sur ace of said4 drum.

17. 'In 'a drying machine of the class de- Iscribed, the combination with the drying drum thereof, and means for heating .the

frame work, a cylinder rotatably Y carried thereby, a belt 1n engagement therewith, guide rollersI forsaid belt, and means whereby one of said rollers may be removed 19. In a drying machine, a supporting. y

:from said frame work laterally to its longitudinal axis. 1 j

20.l In a drying machine, a drum, means with respect for heating the same, a pluralityvof rollers,

a ybelt passing over lthe latter and around said drum, one of said rollers being mounted below and forwardly of said drum, the feed run of said belt extending from said last ramed roller upwardl and in an'inclined plane to the drum, an means for adjusting said roller.

for heatingl the same,

21. In a drying machine, a drum, means a plurality of rollers, a belt passlng over the latter and around said drum, one of said rollersl being mounted forwardly of said drum, the feed run of said Lelt extending from said lastY named rollerl to the drum, and a stationary rod adjacent said rollerover which rod the material to be dried is dragged in its passage to said belt.

22. In a drying machine, a drum, means for heating the same, a plurality of rollers,

a` belt passing over the latter and around said' drum, one of said rollers being mounted f .forwardly of said drum, the feedvrun of said belt extending from said last named roller to the drum, and a staionary rod adjacent said roller over which rod the material to be dried is dragged in itspassage to said belt, ,v

Y said roller vbeing adjustable.

.23. In a drying machine, frame members,

. a drum therebetween, and a plurality of roll- `ers carried by said frame members and extending inwardly therefrom into the opposite ends of said drum, and 'rotatably' supporting the latter by engagement'with the inner periphery thereof, said 4rollers being removably mounted on said framemembers.

24. In a drying machine, a frame, a drum,

and members carried by said frame and en-l.

gaging the inner periphery of said drum for leaves said drum for receiving the material operated upon, said means being in ,the form of al tray adjustable with respect to said ldrum.-

In testimony whereof, we have subscribed vour names.

CHARLES A. GREEN. HAROLD J. BRUNK. 

